Abstract:
Every piece of art must, without a doubt, make a statement about itself. This is due to the fact that the more attractive something is, the more symbolic it becomes. Almost all works of art have multiple interpretations. Every great work of literature contains symbols, which add depth, meaning, strength, and dexterity to the work. The symbolism in Petals of Blood is complex and extensive. This paper examines Ngugi wa Thiong'o's depiction of neocolonial elitism and its influence in Kenya and Africa as a whole through the usage of characters. Two theoretical frameworks, postcolonial and Marxist literary theories, guided the analysis. This is a qualitative study. The issue's literary text and critical resources (print and internet) are evaluated, assessed, and interpreted using qualitative research criteria. To begin, a summary of the chosen book's analytical methodology is offered. The results of this investigation demonstrate that colonial injustice and unmodified colonial institutions and policies are the most enduring issue of Ngugi's literary exploitation. The study is limited to one novel of Ngugi written after post-independence of Kenya. Another constraint is that some of Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s novels written in Gikuyu have not been used in this study because the researcher does not understand the language used in writing them, even though they may contain relevant information on class struggles and symbolic characters during the textual analysis. Finally, the study found that people are aware of their rulers' actions and are plotting a revolt to break free from the elite's grasp. And it proposes viable answers to their political and socioeconomic problems, such as revolution, not just in Kenya but throughout Africa.
Keywords: Symbolism, Marxism, post-colonial, personalities, African leaders
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author/Ordu, Stanley
journal/Zamfara IJOH Vol. 1 Issue 1 & 2
pdf-https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QLZAdXXpE0fCxuRX9CF09nxjV4QUtVs/view?usp=share_link
paper-https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QLZAdXXpE0fCxuRX9CF09nxjV4QUtVs/view?usp=share_link
